SuperCoach: St Kilda defender Hunter Clark is primed for a breakout season after an impressive finish to 2019

In the lead-up to the launch of the AFL SuperCoach team-picker, The Phantom looks at five players who could breakout in 2020. Second up is a young St Kilda defender who ticks all the right boxes

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Third year. Strong run of form at the back-end of the previous season. Big junior numbers.

The second part of the ‘Next Step’ series is an obvious one.

After struggling to find his place during his first year-and-a-half at St Kilda, Hunter Clark looks primed to show why the Saints drafted him at pick No. 7 in 2017.

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Consistently, anyway, given there’s already been flashes of brilliance.

The 20-year-old, who averaged 126 SuperCoach points in the TAC Cup in his draft year, played 15 games in his debut season but was in and out of the St Kilda side to start 2019.

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Clark was used in different roles through the midfield but, after returning from a stint in the VFL in Round 13, he found his place at half-back — a spot where he spent most of the previous year.

In Round 15 against the Tigers, the classy right-footer tallied 23 disposals — at 87 per cent efficiency — 12 contested possessions, 11 intercept possessions and 105 SuperCoach points.

Two weeks later, Clark’s numbers were even more impressive.

In the 27-point loss to Geelong, Clark finished 25 disposals — at 88 per cent efficiency — four intercept marks, 410 metres gained and 120 points.

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While these two performances highlight Clark’s intercept ability and precision by-foot off half-back, his eight score involvements and two goals against the Bulldogs the following round shows he can still have an impact offensively from his own half of the ground.

The former Dandenong Stingray, who excels in traffic — a trait which saw many draw the comparison to Marcus Bontempelli ahead of the 2017 draft — sat inside the top-six at the Saints for a number of key areas in the final nine rounds of the year.

Hunter Clark at Saints training in November. Picture: Michael Klein

Clark ranked second for uncontested possessions, third for handball-receives, fifth for disposals and sixth for effective kicks and metres gained from Round 15.

His 85.6 SuperCoach points per game from half-back was the seventh-most of any Saint

But the midfield is where he’ll end up eventually.

Clark attacks the ball in a rush, without fear, but when he has it in hand, it’s a different story.

The 186cm Saint is clean and often appears to have more time than most.

“He’s going to end up having some of the best hands in the comp,” VFL coach and club great Aaron Hamill told the Saints’ website as the club starting pre-season training.

It’s why Clark is likely to become a key man at the contest for the Saints very soon.

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But, as an attacking defender, after another a pre-season, there’s likely to be a spike regardless of whether that happens on a permanent basis this year.

Coach Brett Ratten told the club’s one-to-four year players at the start of pre-season training it was “time for you to make your run”.

Expect Clark to do exactly that in 2020 and leave a number of popular SuperCoach names in his wake.

Hunter Clark in action for Sandringham in the VFL in 2019. Picture: Michael Dodge/AFL Photos

HUNTER CLARK

2020 position: Defender

Estimated price: $400,000

The Phantom’s predicted 2020 average: 93

2019

Disposals: 20

SuperCoach: 74

2018

Disposals (ave): 15

SuperCoach (ave): 54

CAN WE START HIM?

Absolutely. At the price-point – a popular one in defence in recent seasons – there is likely to be a number players high on the pre-season watch-list. But Clark’s upward trend - in numbers and role – along with his junior data, puts him at the top of the tree.

Originally published as SuperCoach: St Kilda defender Hunter Clark is primed for a breakout season after an impressive finish to 2019